Could 5 May 2011 be the day the voting system changes?

The Lib Dems in the government are hoping that 5 May 2011 will be the date for the referendum on a new voting system for Westminster.

Three quarters of voters in the UK are already entitled to vote on that day. There are English local elections, and elections to devolved assemblies. Lib Dems in the government are pushing for this date.

The Electoral Commission is being asked to assess whether multiple elections, when voters vote on different issues at the same time, are a good idea or not.

There are other optional dates on the table. Nothing is decided yet. Tomorrow Nick Clegg meets the Justice Secretary Ken Clarke to talk through the political reform agenda in their first bi-lateral.